The many benefits of golf for your health and wellbeing

In today’s modern world, the many stresses and strains can easily compound and take their toll on your physical and mental wellbeing. The cost of living crisis, global conflict and the many other external events that take up space in our heads are all very real worries. So, it’s never been more important to take care of your wellbeing.

And in our opinion, there’s no better way to boost your mood than getting involved in golf. For over ten years, at golfclubs4cash we’ve been passionate about promoting the many benefits of playing golf, promoting sustainability in golf and removing barriers to entry for golf beginners. We’re here to help you improve your swing, gain a better understanding of the handicap system and, of course, find the best deals on second hand golf clubs and accessories using our handy golf club buyers’ guides.

So, why are we so passionate about getting more and more people into golf? Simply put, it’s because we know how much it adds to people’s lives. Whether it’s making new friends, getting fitter, getting out and about in nature more often or gaining new skills and accomplishments, golf is there for everybody and it can make such a positive impact on your life.

Let’s dig into the many benefits that golf brings. Everyone has a different reason for getting into golf - what are yours?

Golf gets you fitter

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to play golf - in fact, you don’t have to be very fit at all to get started in golf. Many people who have low levels of fitness find that getting into golf is a great way of gently building stamina and fitness without breaking a sweat. You’ll enjoy yourself so much you won’t even realise you’re exercising, but it won’t be long before you start feeling the benefits,

We all know that a gentle walk is one of the best, low-impact ways to stay fit. The NHS themselves say that just 10 minutes a day can help you burn excess calories, build your stamina and improve your heart health. If that’s what 10 minutes can do, just think how much your body will benefit from an 18-hole round of golf (that’s normally around four hours). If you’re concerned about doing too much, too soon, you could always consider playing a much shorter 9-hole round first, or simply just practising your swing at the driving range. Any activity helps, no matter what stage of fitness you are currently at. An 18-hole round of golf will burn around 500 calories and equates to a walk of between 4-8 miles - so you can imagine what sort of impact that will have on your health even if you’re only playing a round every week.

While the idea that walking is good for you won’t come as news, you may be surprised to learn that a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland found that golf is actually healthier than just walking, especially for over 65s due to its low intensity. And if that’s not convincing enough for you, a study at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute says that being an active member of a golf club can add up to three years to your life!

Unlike other sports such as running, netball, football or hockey, golf is a gentle way to get moving that won’t put pressure on your body if you’re feeling a bit sedentary and you’re worried about doing too much too soon. No matter what your current levels of fitness are, golf is a great way to gently improve things, but do check with your GP first if you’re concerned.

We are increasingly seeing golf being recommended as one of the best ways to gently keep fit, and recently we have seen the NHS pilot schemes where GPs are encouraged to prescribe golf to patients for an all-round boost to fitness, health and wellbeing. This is part of a wider social prescribing agenda which looks at the ways in which lifestyle changes can positively impact health and wellbeing.

Golf is relaxing

Life gets busy, and you probably find that your head gets full of worries, anxieties and stresses. Sometimes they’re so low-level that you may not even realise they’re there, lurking in the back of your mind. But they have a way of getting bigger and bigger in your mind, until they become something that you have to acknowledge and deal with. 

This isn’t a healthy way to live, and it’s important that you identify ways in which you can clear your mind and do something that’s genuinely relaxing. Of course, meditation and mindfulness are both great places to start, but what you may not realise is that by taking part in gentle, low-impact exercise such as golf, yoga or pilates, your brain is given the same sort of break from circular thinking. 

Of course, there are times when golf isn’t quite as relaxing, for example when you lose your ball in the rough, you get a case of the shanks or you’re running late for your tee-time. But on the whole, it’s a fantastic way to rest the mind and put your worries to one side.

Golf is great for your social life!

Feeling a little lonely? Missing the connection with other human beings? We are social creatures, and when loneliness kicks in it can have a detrimental effect on all areas of our wellbeing. The pandemic compounded this problem for a lot of people, with record numbers of loneliness being reported. Socialising more brings about many benefits, not least that it is apparently good for lowering your risk of dementia.

Joining a golf club is your fast track to an improved social life. The number of golfers continues to grow year on year, with more and more people finding that it’s a great way to make new friends, improve their fitness and be part of something.

It’s not just a hobby for the older generations - the average age of golfers fell by a whopping 5 years in 2020 - down to 41. And it’s not just for men, either: in the same year 25% of female golfers were new to golf. (Don’t forget we have an amazing range of second hand ladies’ golf clubs and equipment to help you raise your game). No matter what age or stage you’re at in life, you can be sure that you’ll find like-minded friends on the golf course. 

It can be hard to break the ice with fellow golfers if you’re new to a club. However, you’ll find that your local golf club will run friendly social events and golf tournaments that get people interacting. Be brave and put your name down - they’ll be delighted that you’ve joined them and you’ll start building a bank of golfing mates that you can regularly hit the course with.

Golf is a great way for children to meet friends too. The social interaction that golf brings is one of the many benefits that children enjoy when they get into golf for the first time.

Single? Golf just may be the thing that brings you together with your perfect match! In true Tin Cup style, there’s plenty of romance to be found on the golf course, and there are plenty of dating apps that are dedicated to golf to give you a head start!

Golf gets you out and about in nature

Never mind all the relaxation apps, yoga classes and online escapism - if you really want to relax then you need to get out into nature. There’s growing evidence to suggest that spending time in green spaces can reduce stress, enhance your mood, boost your concentration and even support your immune system.

Stimulating all your senses in a natural environment is the perfect antidote to modern life, and golf gives you a front-row seat to all the abundance that nature has to offer. Witnessing the seasons changing, watching squirrels and birds go about their business, and feeling the positive effects of daylight and sunshine (if you’re lucky!) all compound to lift your spirits, boost your mood and give you a sense of perspective on your own life.

All this should go without saying of course, but as a species we are spending more and more of our time indoors and/or online. The pandemic changed this for many people: no longer able to go about their usual business, people began to explore their local surroundings more and rediscover the many subtle benefits of time in nature.

We mentioned above that fitness is an integral part of the growing social prescribing movement. Time in nature is another one of its key elements, because there is no doubt of the huge positive impact getting outdoors can have on your body and mind.

Golf is such a wonderful way to get out and about and enjoy all the wonders that nature has to offer. Come rain or shine, you’ll always feel better after some time outdoors, being at one with nature. With a very low risk of injury, it’s one of the safest sports to get involved in.

Golf is accessible

Whether able-bodied or not, golf does not discriminate and it really is an inclusive sport that is for everyone. The England-wide registered charity the Disabled Golf Association provides golf competition days for people with impairments and disabilities, and most, if not all golf clubs are accessible by wheelchair.

For those who are unable to walk or find it difficult, a golf buggy is a great way of getting around the course (though you may find that your local course is closed to buggies in very wet weather due to the damage that they cause by churning up grass, so make sure you check with your golf club first). 

Wheelpower, the organisation set up to support British wheelchair sport, is full of resources and guides to help you play golf, no matter what your individual challenges are. You may also find the Handigolf website a good source of information and support.

There are plenty of examples of golfers with disabilities who are making waves on a national and even an international scale. Brendan Lawlor, a pro golfer with a rare condition called Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome made history in 2020 when he became the first disabled golfer to compete on the European tour.

And when we say golf is inclusive, we mean it. It’s attracting more and more players from all walks of life with more females getting into golf, more support and equipment available for left-handed golfers and more children, too. In fact, the UK’s top-ranked female golfer Georgia Hall recently opened her academy at Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire, which focuses on getting more children into golf.

Golf helps you sleep better

As we all know, any sort of exercise enables the body to burn off the excess energy it needs, leading to a rewarding, deep and peaceful sleep. And who isn’t a better, happier, more optimistic person after a good night’s sleep? Not only will a great sleep make for a brilliant day the next day, but you’re also more likely to be playing at your best on the golf course - so it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy!

Golf boosts your mental health

It will come as no surprise to you to learn that golf is one of the best ways to improve your mental health. After all, what else would you expect a combination of gentle exercise, spending time in nature, improving your sleep and making new friends to do for your overall wellbeing?! And let’s not forget the mental health benefits of socialising at the 19th hole, either.

There’s no shortage of studies and news reports to back up this claim, but one statistic that struck us was from the Golf Travel Centre, which in 2020 conducted a survey to find out just how golf impacted mental health. A staggering 98% of respondents said that golf improved their mental health. There’s no arguing with that!

So, if you’re finding yourself a bit down in the dumps, you’re struggling with depression and/or anxiety or you’re finding it hard to boost your mood, we’re fairly sure that a round of golf will help. We know that low mood and depression can be debilitating and it will be difficult for you to muster the energy and bravery to give it a go, but we promise it will be worth it. 

Golf gives you a structure for gentle improvement

As you get into the game and start bringing your handicap down, you’ll find that there are lots of little wins along the way that will boost your confidence and give you a sense of pride. Whether it’s finishing near the top of the leaderboard at your local club, feeling a sense of improvement around the course or even… let’s think big here… bagging that elusive hole-in-one… these small but important milestones will bring about an important sense of achievement, a boost to your self-esteem and perhaps even a little ego massage - because let’s face it we all need that from time to time!

There will be knocks along the way of course, and you’ll get your share of disappointing scores too, but with a little effort and perhaps some work on your swing or tactics via a few lessons from a pro, you should start to see gradual improvement quite early on. You may sometimes hit the ‘plateau’, where you feel like you’re neither getting worse or better for a long time, but persevere and you’ll reach the breakthrough you’re looking for.

Golf is great for the planet!

Well, it is when you shop with golfclubs4cash. We’re the biggest supplier of second hand golf clubs and accessories in Europe, and that means getting more clubs to more budding players, without the great expense that can sometimes come with it. Buying second hand brings a wealth of benefits to the planet, not least that you are helping to reduce, reuse and recycle rather than filling up landfills with perfectly serviceable golf equipment.

There’s no doubt that buying used golf clubs is the sustainable choice, as well as the affordable choice. So check out our range of second hand drivers, irons, fairways and more and see for yourself how competitive our prices are compared to buying new. 

So, that rounds up our list of the many benefits that golf brings to your physical and mental health and wellbeing, along with the added environmental benefits. Are there any that we’ve missed? Get in touch and let us know!